This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Vincit qui se vincit" is a Latin phrase meaning "He conquers who conquers himself." Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. "
This film sits at a fascinating crossroads: von Stroheim’s icy precision, Duryea’s trademark wounded swagger, and Hughes’ deceptively bright charm. Mann is still early in his noir evolution, but the psychological shadows are already deep.
🌍 Plot Summary
Set in the world of vaudeville touring acts, the story follows Flamarion, a disciplined, emotionally isolated sharpshooter whose act depends on absolute control — of his weapons, his timing, and the people around him.
His assistant Connie Wallace is dazzling, flirtatious, and hungry for escape. Her husband Al, also part of the act, is charming but alcoholic, unreliable, and increasingly in her way.
As the story unfolds:
Connie senses Flamarion’s loneliness and begins to draw him in.
Flamarion, who has lived a life of cold precision, experiences desire and vulnerability for the first time.
Connie manipulates him into believing that eliminating Al would free them both.
A staged “accident” during the act becomes the turning point — a moment of sin disguised as spectacle.
Connie abandons Flamarion once he has served her purpose, leaving him spiritually shattered.
The film circles back to a confessional frame: Flamarion recounting the story from a place of ruin, guilt, and clarity.
The film blends:
obsession
manipulation
moral blindness
the hunger for love
the cost of self‑deception
It’s a noir built not on shadows in alleys, but shadows in the human heart.
🕊️ Moral & Spiritual Resonance
1. The Danger of Self‑Deception
Flamarion believes he is immune to human weakness — until he isn’t.
His downfall begins the moment he convinces himself that desire can coexist with moral compromise.
It’s the classic noir warning: the lie you tell yourself is the one that destroys you.
2. The False Light of the Femme Fatale
Connie is not simply wicked; she is the embodiment of a spiritual counterfeit — a promise of freedom that leads to bondage.
Her allure exposes the places where Flamarion’s heart was unguarded.
3. Confession as the Path Back to Truth
The film’s framing device — Flamarion recounting his story after the collapse — mirrors the sacramental rhythm: sin → consequence → clarity → confession.
His final honesty is the first moment of real freedom he’s ever known.
🍷 Hospitality Pairing
A noir like this calls for something intimate, shadowed, and emotionally honest — a meal that mirrors the film’s themes of illusion, desire, and revelation.
Meal
Dark mushroom ragout over buttered noodles — earthy, rich, and slightly smoky
Roasted beets with vinegar and herbs — a visual echo of blood and consequence
A small square of bittersweet chocolate — desire with an edge
Drink
A dry, tannic red (Cabernet or Syrah) — structured, brooding, uncompromising
Or a non‑alcoholic option: black tea with a twist of lemon — sharp, cleansing, clarifying
Symbolic Touch
Dim the lights and place a single object on the table — a metal utensil, polished and cold — a quiet nod to Flamarion’s gun, the instrument of both his pride and his downfall.
oRise and shine! Start your day with a hearty breakfast to fuel the adventures ahead. Whip up some toast, bacon, eggs, and a steaming cup of coffee – celebrate The Big Breakfast Day in style. As you savor each bite, consider the importance of protein in your diet. Pack a protein-packed snack for an on-the-go boost later in the day to honor National Protein Day.
oFeeling nostalgic? Throw it back with some retro tunes playing in the background. Dress in your favorite vintage outfit and groove to the music – Retro Day is all about embracing the past. Take a moment to appreciate the simpler times and maybe even challenge your friends to a retro-themed trivia game.
oIn the midst of the fun, don’t forget to indulge your taste buds with some delicious chili. Whether you prefer it mild or spicy, National Chili Day is the perfect excuse to whip up a big pot and share with your loved ones. Pair it with a glass of Kahlua to toast to friendship and good times on National Kahlua Day.
oFeeling adventurous? Explore the outdoors and embark on a polar bear plunge to mark International Polar Bear Day. Embrace the cold water and revel in the refreshing feeling afterwards. As you dry off, why not whip up a batch of strawberry smoothies to celebrate National Strawberry Day? It’s a refreshing way to cap off your chilly adventure.
oAs the day winds down, wind up your creativity with a fun Pokemon-themed craft. Create your favorite Pokemon out of paper or clay to commemorate National Pokemon Day. Unleash your inner artist and let your imagination run wild.
oTo end the day on a sweet note, treat yourself to a warm slice of khachapuri, a traditional Georgian cheese bread, on Khachapuri Day. Indulge in this cheesy delight and savor the unique flavors.
oAnd there you have it – a jam-packed day celebrating a medley of weird national holidays. So go forth and make the most of these offbeat celebrations!
Nic’s Rich/Poor Tour
💎 Jordan
vs Sri Lanka
Crossroads of Covenant / Island of Resilience
Jordan and Sri Lanka sit at the very center of the world’s economic ladder — not wealthy, not destitute, but suspended between stability and struggle. Jordan is a desert kingdom shaped by covenant, hospitality, and the weight of biblical geography. Sri Lanka is a wounded island, recovering from crisis after crisis, yet carrying a deep spiritual resilience that refuses to die. Together they form the hinge of the global pilgrimage — the middle point where the world’s story turns.
🇯🇴 Jordan — Stable, Pressured, and Historically Sacred
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$13,000–$14,000 (2024)
🧮 Why Jordan Sits at the Center
Resource‑poor but politically stable
Massive refugee burden from Syria, Iraq, and Palestine
Tourism anchored in sacred geography (Jordan River, Mount Nebo, Petra)
Strategic location between conflict zones
Economy balanced between aid, services, and remittances
✝️ Christian Landscape
Ancient roots: early desert monasticism, baptismal sites
Small minority: ~2–4% Christian
Catholic presence: Latin, Melkite, and Maronite communities
Interfaith coexistence: Christians as bridge‑builders
Pilgrimage: Bethany Beyond the Jordan
⚠️ Challenges
Water scarcity
Economic stagnation
Youth unemployment
Refugee pressure on parishes
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Jordan is a crossroads of covenant
— a land where God has spoken for millennia, and where the Church survives quietly through hospitality, memory, and steadfastness.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka — Wounded, Devout, and Spiritually Resilient
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$13,000–$14,000 (2024)
🧮 Why Sri Lanka Sits at the Center
Post‑crisis recovery after economic collapse
Tourism rebuilding
Agriculture and textiles anchor the economy
Ethnic and religious complexity
Large diaspora sending remittances
✝️ Catholic Landscape
~7% Catholic — unusually high for South Asia
Deep Marian devotion (Our Lady of Madhu)
Church as healer after civil war
Youthful parishes with strong devotional culture
Martyrdom: Easter 2019 bombings
⚠️ Challenges
Economic hardship
Political instability
Religious tensions
Migration draining young talent
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Sri Lanka is an island of resilience
— a Church that rises again and again, carrying wounds with dignity and turning suffering into intercession.
🕊️ Editorial Reflection
Jordan and Sri Lanka form the hinge of the world’s story — the midpoint between wealth and poverty, comfort and crisis, memory and rebuilding.
Jordan is a crossroads of covenant — ancient, steady, and quietly faithful. Sri Lanka is an island of resilience — wounded, musical, and defiantly hopeful.
One preserves sacred memory. The other embodies sacred endurance. Both stand at the center of the global pilgrimage, reminding us that the middle of the world is not mediocrity but balance — the place where the extremes meet.
FEBRUARY 27 Friday of the
First Week of Lent-Ember Day
Moses’
use of the word fear here not in the
sense of “be terrified,” but rather “manifest reverence or awe.” Christ’s
mission of love was to move our hearts from reverence or awe of pure love: A
love in which the heart of the beloved longs to do good works secretly in
emulation of the God that is good to saint and sinner alike. Our church often
instructs us to increase in ourselves Faith, Hope and Charity.
Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to
give and not to count the cost…to labor and not to ask for reward, except to
know that I am doing your will. (Saint Ignatius, Prayer for Generosity)
Lord, let me not fear
death with an empty fear, but
with a wise and holy fear. An empty fear does not make men any better, but a
wise and holy fear urges them to
improve their lives. I will prepare for death by trying today to please you
more and more in my thoughts, desires, words and actions. If I live this day as
You desire, I shall be ready at any moment, and death will be nothing worse
than Your loving call. Amen[1]
Copilot’s
Take
Lent
sharpens the soul by returning it to the things God has already shown us. What
Moses calls “fear” is really the discipline of remembering—holding fast to the
moments when God revealed Himself so clearly that they became anchors for a
lifetime. That kind of reverence steadies a man. It keeps his heart from
drifting into self‑reliance or forgetfulness, and it forms the quiet strength
that Christ later perfects: the strength to do good unseen, to love without
applause, to imitate the Father in the hidden places where holiness is actually
forged.
A day
like this—an Ember Day—presses that truth even deeper. It asks whether our
lives still reflect the God we claim to remember. Holy fear becomes the
interior posture that keeps us awake, honest, and ready. It is not dread but
clarity: the awareness that every thought, word, and action can be shaped
toward God if we choose it. When a man lives that way, death no longer
threatens him; it simply meets him as the moment when the One he has tried to
please finally calls him home.
BE
merciful, O Lord, to Thy people, and as Thou makest them devout to Thee,
mercifully refresh them with kind assistance.
EPISTLE.
Ezech. xviii. 20-28.
Thus,
saith the Lord God: The soul that sinneth, the same shall die: the son shall
not bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity
of the son: the justice of the just shall be upon him and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked do penance for all his sins, which
he hath committed, and keep all My commandments, and do judgment and justice,
living he shall live, and shall not die. I will not remember all his iniquities
that he hath done in his justice which he hath wrought, he shall live. Is it My
will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be
converted from his ways, and live?
But
if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do iniquity according
to all the abominations which the wicked man useth to work, shall he live? all
his justices which he had done, shall not be remembered: in the prevarication,
by which he hath prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in them
he shall die. And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye,
therefore, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is not right, and are not
rather your ways perverse?
For
when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and committeth iniquity,
lie shall die therein: in the injustice that he hath wrought he shall die. And
when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, which he hath
wrought, and doeth judgment and justice: he shall save his soul alive. Because
he considereth and turneth away himself from all his iniquities which he hath
wrought, he shall surely live, and not die, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL.
John v. 1-15.
At
that time there was a festival-day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named
Bethsaida, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of
blind, of lame, of withered, waiting for the moving of the water. And an angel
of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond: and the water was moved.
And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water, was
made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under. And there was a certain man
there, that had been eight-and-thirty years under his infirmity. Him when Jesus
had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, He saith to him:
Wilt thou be made whole? The infirm man answered Him: Sir, I have no man, when
the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another
goeth down before me. Jesus saith to him: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And
immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed and walked. And it
was the Sabbath that day. The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is
the Sabbath, it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. He answered them: He
that made me whole, He said to me: Take up thy bed, and walk. They asked him
therefore: Who is that man who said to thee: Take up thy bed, and walk? But he
who was healed, knew not who it was. For Jesus went aside from the multitude
standing in the place. Afterwards Jesus findeth him in the temple, and saith to
him: Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to
thee. The man went his way and told the Jews that it was Jesus Who had made him
whole.
Have you ever heard about
the Ember days, observed for most of the history of the Church prior to the
late 20th century? If you haven’t, don’t feel bad. Like many traditional
practices in the Church laden with deep meaning, Ember days have been chucked down
the Catholic memory hole. But fear not! This is why God created the Internet:
so, we can find all the neat things about Catholicism that are worth
knowing and sharing.
Four times a year, the
Church sets aside three days to focus on God through His marvelous creation.
These quarterly periods take place around the beginnings of the four natural
seasons that “like some virgins dancing in a circle, succeed one another with
the happiest harmony,” as St. John Chrysostom wrote. These four times are each
kept on a successive Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and are known as “Ember
Days,” or Quatuor Tempora, in Latin. The first of these four
times comes in Winter, after the the Feast of St. Lucy; the second comes in Spring, the week after Ash Wednesday;
the third comes in Summer, after Pentecost Sunday; and the last comes in Autumn,
after Holy Cross Day.
The Ember days are true
Catholic tradition dating actually dating back to the Apostles, (Pope Leo The
Great claims it was instituted by the Apostles). Pope Callistus (217-222)
in the “Liber Pontificalis” has laws ordering all to observe a fast three times
a year to counteract the hedonistic and pagan Roman rites praying for:
By the time of Pope
Gelasius, (492-496), he already writes about there being four times a years,
including Spring. He also permitted the conferring of priesthood and
deaconship on the Saturdays of Ember week. This practice was mostly
celebrated around Rome, from Pope Gelasius’ time, they began to spread
throughout the Church. St. Augustin brought them to England and the
Carolingians into Gaul and Germany. In the eleventh century, Spain
adopted them. It was not until Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) that these Ember
days were prescribed for the whole Catholic Church as days of fast and
abstinence. He placed these “four mini-Lents” consisting of three days;
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The purposes of these
“mini-Lents” were to pray, fast and to thank God for the gifts He gives us
through nature.
They follow the four seasons of the year with the beauty and uniqueness
of each particular season. They are here for us to teach us to use, with
moderation, what God gives us through nature, and to also share these gifts
with the poor.
So,
what does this mean for you?
Well,
because of the changes in Church law, not a whole lot. At least not officially.
The mandatory observation of Ember days was excised from Church practice during
the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. But as a voluntary practice,
there is much that is salutary in observing the Ember days of the Church.
I don’t know about you,
but as a typically indulgent American, I’ve never been very good at fasting.
Lately, I’ve noticed more and more people are advocating fasting as a
countermeasure in today’s troubling times. This is the first year I will be
observing these fasts, and I’ve got to tell you, I’m already pretty
famished and a bit punchy. But the way I see it, there’s no point in
continuing to put off the inevitable penance that I’m going to have to do for
being a big, fat sinner. To say nothing about making reparations for the
increasingly hostile darkness of a world steeped in its own sins. Fasting isn’t
going to get easier at some point in the future when I get “holier.” In fact,
I’m guessing the latter isn’t going to happen until I master the former. I
don’t think there’s ever been a time where fasting and penance are more needed
than right this moment. We can’t rely on others to do it for us. Gotta
cowboy up and put our mortification where our mouth is. What do you say?Who will be
hungry with me?!
Lent is the
penitential season of approximately 40 days set aside by the Church in order
for the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Death
and Resurrection. During this holy season, inextricably connected to the
Paschal Mystery, the Catechumens prepare for Christian initiation, and current
Church members prepare for Easter by a recalling of Baptism and by works of
penance, that is, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Even in the early
Church, Lent was the season for prayerful and penitential preparation for the
feast of Easter. Though the obligation of penance was originally only imposed
on those who had committed public sins and crimes, by medieval times all the
faithful voluntarily performed acts of penance to repair for their sins.
Ash Wednesday is
the clarion call to “Repent and believe the gospel” (Mk 1:15). For the next
forty days, the faithful willingly submit to fasting and self-denial in
imitation of Our Lord’s forty-day fast in the desert. It is in these dark and
still nights, these desert-times, that the soul experiences its greatest
growth. There, in the inner arena, the soul battles the world, the flesh and
the devil just as Our Lord battled Satan's triple temptation in the desert. His
battle was external, for Jesus could not sin; our battle is interior, but with
a hope sustained by the knowledge of Christ’s Easter victory over sin and
death.
His victory is
our renewal, our “spring” — which is the meaning of the Anglo-Saxon word,
“lengten” or Lent. In this penitential season we have the opportunity to make
an annual spiritual “tune-up”, a 40-day retreat with Our Lord. Have we allowed
worldly cares and the “daily drama” to obscure our call to holiness? Have
self-love and materialism eroded our relationship with God? Then let us renew
our efforts, and through our Lenten observance, discipline the body and master
it as we “follow in the footsteps of the poor and crucified Christ” (St.
Francis of Assisi). Activity
Source: Original Text (JGM & MG) by Jennifer Gregory Miller and Margaret
Gregory
Part and parcel of the breakdown of
a family begins when the family no longer shares a communal meal. The strongest
families are those who meet daily for the breaking of the bread and have an
established time of the day when everyone is expected to eat together whether
that meal is a breakfast, lunch or supper. When we “say grace” before (or
after) our meals, we transform our family or lone meals into “sacraments” of
God’s banquet. A meal shared in this manner is shared with God himself. In this
way every meal, then, is a celebration of God’s creation and his providence.
Traditional Grace before meals
“Bless
us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy
bounty. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen
There are many and varied
ways in which sin and evil are presented to us in an attractive way.
Freeing My Own Self from the Power of Evil
·Through
his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus has broken the power of the Evil
One. When the influence of evil is perceived in one's own life, it most
frequently comes about from personal sin. Family members suffer because of the
sin of an individual member of the family. It is through the sacred power that
the Lord has placed in his Church that the evil of sin is conquered.
·Through
medicine, psychology and other human means, suffering can often be alleviated.
But Jesus in his Church, has given us basic helps that are often neglected.
·In
our day the Sacrament of Reconciliation has fallen into disuse. There exists a
power in this sacrament to break the power of the Evil One and sin that is not
possible otherwise.
·Our
faith in the Eucharist is weakened. In this sacrament is the power and presence
of Jesus Himself. Persons who have actually needed exorcism from the power of
the Evil One have been cured by sitting in church in the presence of the
Blessed Sacrament, an hour each day, for one or two months. These were very
difficult cases.
·Our
Blessed Mother has been designated by God as the one who crushes the head of
the serpent (Gen. 3:1s). The Rosary is a very powerful means of protection and
salvation. Many sons and daughters have been saved from the power of sin and
the loss of faith through the perseverance of their parents in saying the Holy
Rosary.
We
are composed of body and soul, “every part of the body is an expressive
instrument of the soul. The soul does not inhabit the body as a man inhabits a
house, it lives and works in each member, each fiber, and reveals itself in the
body’s every line, contour and movement.” Our bodies communicate respect or
contempt. By our gestures and the way, we comport ourselves we confirm his
presence. We are “ensouled” bodies as much as we are embodied souls. We should
always move as the Church directs us: sit, stand, bow, kneel, strike the
breast, make the Sign of the Cross, all in due time. The scriptures speak of
several postures of prayer: 1) Standing 2) Kneeling 3) bowing 4) prostrating.
Standing gives the expression to the
prayers of our heart. Standing is a sign of vigilance and action acknowledging
that we are the warriors of God, as a soldier on duty. A Knight always stood in
the presence of the King or Judge. Standing was a sign of deference and trust.
We acknowledge that none of our weapons or self-defenses can repel Him for He
alone is all powerful and all knowing. We are vulnerable in His presence.
Military officers know that comportment has serious consequences. Soldiers tend
to live up, or down to the way they carry themselves. That’s why there are
strict rules about how a soldier should stand when at attention. Bad posture is
bad for the spine and communicates disrespect for us and others. Standing
expresses the filial liberty given us by the risen Christ, who has freed us
from the slavery to sin.
Bowing or
genuflecting is an
act of showing recognition of our God. It is adoration. In bowing or
genuflecting we show our faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the
sacrament of the altar. To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Kneeling is the prayer posture of mothers,
rulers, lepers, and Jesus himself. Kneeling is the side of worship that is at
rest and is quiet; “I bow my knees before the Father”. (Eph. 3:14) Kneeling
expresses the recognition of our humility before the Almighty Lord (Phil 2:10).
Kneeling is associated with reverence, submission and obeisance. Kneeling
renders a person defenseless and unable to flee and shows a trust in a power
beyond the merely human.
Sitting-We spend a lot of time in church
sitting; by this position we show our receptiveness and our willingness to
listen and take the Word of God.
In prostration a person lies face down upon the
ground. We are connected to the earth from which we came. Prostrations are
reserved for most solemn moments, such as the ordination of a bishop or priest.
Remember our Lord prostrated Himself in the garden of Gethsemane. The posture
indicates the candidate’s inadequacy for the task to which he has been called.
Recall our Lord asking the Father to take to cup…but not my will but thine. Our
body expresses self-emptying.
Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper
Using red lentils can
remind us of the martyrdom of St. Polycarp or any other martyr.
Catholic Recipe: Red Lentil Soup
INGREDIENTS
1
1/2 c red lentils
8
c Meat stock
2
md Size onions
2
tb Butter
1/2
tb Flour
1
c Milk
3
Egg yolks
1
tb Salt
1/2
ts Black pepper
6
Slices of bread
2
tb Oil
Origin: Turkey
DIRECTIONS
1- Wash the lentils. Put
them in meat stock and 1 cup of water. Cook for 35-40 minutes until they are
tender. Pass them through a sieve.
2- Melt the butter in
another saucepan. Add chopped onions and fry them lightly for 7-8 minutes. Add
flour. Brown for 1 minute more. Add them to the meat stock with the lentil
puree. Add salt and pepper and let simmer.
3- Beat the egg yolks with
cold milk. Add to the boiling soup mix well. Turn the heat off as soon as it
starts boiling. Serve with bread cubes fried in oil.
Recognizing
that God the Father created man on Friday the 6th day I propose in
this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in
strength, mind, soul and heart.
Being a catholic during the
Carnival season does not mean you cannot has fun but it also requires that you
use prudence and reason-maintain your backbone.
Your
Posture says a lot about you-stand tall have an erect bearing.
FM 20-21: War
Department Field Manual, 1946
Posture Training
GENERAL
PRINCIPLES OF
POSTURE TRAINING. There is no one “best posture” for all men because the
physical architecture of individuals differs according to the bony structure
they inherit. Therefore, to develop the best posture for each member of any
given group certain general principles must be applied intelligently to the
group as a whole as well as to each man. These principles are:
To teach the characteristics of good posture.
b. To provide an opportunity to “feel” or practice good posture.
c. To have the men practice proper posture until it feels more comfortable than
poor posture.
d. To motivate the men to acquire it as a habit.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF GOOD POSTURE. The first step in posture training is to teach what
good posture is. Many men have a misconception as to what constitutes good
posture. For example, they arch the lower back, thrust out the chest and
retract the shoulders in an exaggerated manner, or they spring their knees
backward. The characteristics of good posture are head balanced and erect,
chest held high without tension, abdomen flat, shoulders back and relaxed,
lower back only slightly curved, and knees straight but not stiff. Instructors
should explain and demonstrate the position of the various parts of the body in
proper posture.
TRAINING FOR GOOD
POSTURE. The men must be provided with opportunities to feel and
to practice good posture. Many individuals feel more natural while maintaining
a bad posture. Certain muscle groups must have special training to maintain
good posture without undue fatigue. The exercises below will provide this
training. The emphasis upon proper posture must not be confined to physical
training periods only. A good military bearing must be insisted upon until the
men assume it from habit.
MOTIVATING GOOD
POSTURE. Regardless of the amount of exercise and instruction
they get; men habitually assume good posture only if they want to.
That is why motivation is so important.
At the beginning,
a short talk should be given, illustrated if possible, on reasons for
cultivating good posture. Good posture has many values for the soldier. First,
a soldier is often judged by his appearance – the man with good posture looks
like a soldier, he commands attention. Secondly, it is an accepted
psychological fact that good posture is associated with good morale – a man
with a good posture feels better and is more positive. A man with poor posture
cannot feel as positive, consequently he may develop a negative and discouraged
attitude. Thirdly, good posture permits the body to function most efficiently.
This is because the opposing muscle groups balance, thus maintaining the bony
structure in a balanced position. The correct bony alignment provides for the
correct positions of the internal organs. The correct positions of the organs
assist them in the performance of their various functions. Less strain and
tension is placed upon bones, muscles, ligaments and organs.
The instructors
should always be excellent examples of good posture. They must be enthusiastic
about it and “sell it” to the men. Men with excellent posture should be
complimented. They should be reminded when they exhibit poor posture. This
should be done without nagging, and with humor, if possible.
Visual aids
should be utilized. A few pictures of good posture and a few signs at familiar
places will remind the men to emphasize good posture. These help to motivate
many of the men.
Posture judgments
help to motivate the men. The four posture silhouettes above are highly valid
standards by which to make such judgments. It takes a few minutes to judge 100
men, especially if they are inspected in small groups. They should also be judged
occasionally when off guard. Announcing the platoon with the best average
posture may stimulate friendly rivalry.
POSTURAL
EXERCISES
GENERAL. The ten
exercises below are designed to develop the postural muscles. All of these
exercises have SLOW CADENCE and two-count movements. They are especially
valuable for use in the “strength
course.”
EXERCISE 1
Starting
Position. Attention. Movement:
Swing arms forward and upward to full stretch overhead and at
the same time rise high on toes.
Swing arms sideward and downward slowly and press back hard.
At the same time retract chin and let heels drop to the ground. Avoid an
exaggerated arch in lower back.
EXERCISE 2
Starting
Position. Trunk leaning forward about 60°, arms hanging downward
loosely from shoulders. Movement:
Swing arms sideward and backward vigorously, retracting chin
forcefully and flattening upper back. Hold this position momentarily.
Recover to starting position.
EXERCISE 3
Starting
Position. Standing, fingertips touching shoulders, arms in front
of chest, and elbows downward. Movement:
Move upper arms outward and backward, with elbows hugging sides. Hold
the position a full second while trying to force arms further around and back.
At same time, retract head and attempt to stretch upward.
Recover to starting position.
EXERCISE 4
Starting
Position. Kneeling on the mat, trunk bent sharply forward, hands
behind head. Movement:
Still leaning forward, straighten upper back and press elbows and head
backward. At the same time pull in chin.
Recover to starting position.
EXERCISE 5
Starting
Position. Sitting on the floor, knees raised, trunk bent forward,
and arms stretched forward. Movement:
Still leaning forward, swing arms upward and backward. At the
same time pull in chin.
Recover to starting position.
EXERCISE 6
Starting
Position. Lying face down on the floor, with elbows at sides and
fingertips on shoulders. Movement:
Rotate arms
outward and pull elbows in hard to sides. At the same time pull in chin and
lift head about 6 inches from the floor. Hold this position a full second.
Recover to
starting position.
EXERCISE 7
Starting
Position. Bending forward about 45°, elbows horizontally sideward
from shoulders, forearms bent forward, palms down, thumbs just in front of
shoulders. Movement:
Straighten elbows
and swing arms slowly but hard sideward and backward. At the same time retract
head.
Make small
circles about a foot in diameter, elbows circling upward and backward. Press
arms backward and retract head. Movement is slow.
(2) After completing sufficient repetitions, recover to starting position.
Make small
circles about a foot in diameter, hands circling upward and backward. Press
arms backward and retract head. Movement is slow.
After completing
sufficient repetitions, recover to starting position.
EXERCISE 10
Starting
Position. Arms overhead. Movement:
Pull arms slowly
downward until fists are beside shoulders. Pull as though chinning.
Recover to
starting position.
Bible in a
year Day 240 Remaining
Humble
Fr. Mike touches on Proverbs 16:3, which is about
giving everything in our lives to the service of the Lord. He also emphasizes
how important it is to humble ourselves before the Lord, so to avoid becoming
like the false prophets Jeremiah talks about today. Today's readings are
Jeremiah 23, Daniel 4-5, and Proverbs 16:1-4.
[7] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs
and their biblical roots. Chap. 10. Posture.
Sundown (1941) — Overview
🎬 Basic Film Details
Director: Henry Hathaway
Studio: United Artists
Genre: Wartime adventure / espionage drama
Runtime: ~90 minutes
Stars:
Gene Tierney as Zia
Bruce Cabot as Bill Crawford
George Sanders as Major Coombes
Harry Carey as Dewey
This was early in Gene Tierney’s career—just before Laura (1944) would make her iconic. Here she’s luminous, mysterious, and commanding in a role that mixes exoticism with moral gravity.
🌍 Plot Summary (Clean, Clear, Devotional‑Ready)
Set in British East Africa during WWII, the story centers on a remote outpost where British officers discover that Nazi agents are smuggling arms to local tribes, hoping to stir rebellion and destabilize the region.
Into this tense environment steps Zia (Gene Tierney)—a striking, enigmatic woman of mixed heritage who seems to know more about the arms trade than she initially reveals. Her loyalties are unclear, and her presence unsettles both the officers and the local political balance.
As the plot unfolds:
Zia’s past is revealed to be deeply tied to the region’s tribal politics.
The British officers—especially Bruce Cabot and George Sanders—struggle to discern friend from foe.
A climactic confrontation exposes the Nazi plot and forces Zia to make a sacrificial, identity‑defining choice.
The film blends:
espionage
colonial tension
wartime urgency
personal redemption
It’s atmospheric, morally layered, and visually striking—especially the desert cinematography.
🕊️ Moral & Spiritual Resonance
1. Identity and Truth
Zia’s struggle with her heritage mirrors the human struggle to reconcile past, present, and calling. Her eventual clarity becomes a kind of conversion moment—choosing truth over survival.
2. Courage in the Shadows
Much of the film’s drama happens in hidden motives and quiet decisions. It’s a reminder that moral courage often happens long before the battle begins.
3. Light in the Desert
The desert setting becomes symbolic: barren, exposed, purifying. Characters are stripped down to their essentials. It’s a Lenten landscape—testing, revealing, refining.
🍷 Hospitality Pairing
Given the film’s setting and tone, here’s a pairing that fits your ritual‑hospitality framework:
Meal
North African–inspired lentil stew with warm spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon)
Flatbread brushed with olive oil
Dates or dried apricots for a simple, desert‑evocative sweetness
Drink
A dry red with earthy notes—something that feels sun‑baked and grounded
Or, for a non‑alcoholic option: mint tea, served hot, simple, and cleansing
Symbolic Touch
A single candle in a darkened room—echoing the film’s theme of light in a hostile landscape.
oStart your day by telling a fairy tale to a friend or family member. Let your imagination run wild and transport your listener to a magical world of enchantment. Embrace the whimsy of the storytelling process and have fun with it.
oFor snack time, indulge in some delicious pistachios. Whether you crack them open one by one or enjoy them in a pistachio-based dish, savor the unique flavor and health benefits of these green gems.
oIn the spirit of Levi Strauss Day, rock your favorite denim attire. Dress head to toe in denim or simply add a denim accessory to your outfit. Embrace the timeless style and versatility of this classic fabric.
oShow your support for anti-bullying efforts on National Pink Shirt Day by wearing a pink shirt. Take a stand against bullying and promote kindness and acceptance in your community.
oTake some time to write a heartfelt letter to an elder in your life on Letter to an Elder Day. Share memories, words of wisdom, or simply let them know how much they mean to you. Your words will surely brighten their day.
oChallenge yourself with some tongue twisters on International Tongue Twister Contest Day. Have a friendly competition with friends or family to see who can tackle the trickiest twisters without stumbling over their words.
oCelebrate Tex Avery Day by watching classic cartoons or indulging in some animated fun. Enjoy the lighthearted humor and creativity of Tex Avery’s beloved creations.
oSeize the day on National Carpe Diem Day by embracing new opportunities and making the most of each moment. Try something new, take a chance, and live life to the fullest.
oGet into the festive spirit on Carnival Day by hosting a mini carnival at home. Create games, serve up some carnival-inspired treats, and enjoy a day of fun and laughter with loved ones.
oOn Inconvenience Yourself Day, perform random acts of kindness for others. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering your time, or simply spreading positivity, make a difference in someone else’s day.
oSet a positive example on National Set a Good Example Day by embodying kindness and compassion in your actions. Lead by example and inspire others to follow suit.
oFor Pete’s Sake Day, take some time to relax and unwind. Treat yourself to a little self-care, whether it’s a bubble bath, a favorite movie, or a cozy nap. Put your well-being first.
oLastly, observe Maha Shivaratri by spending some time in reflection or meditation. Connect with your inner self and find peace and serenity in the stillness of the moment.
I’m a big fan of this underrated but very photogenic beauty spot! Located ten miles from Tucson in southern Arizona, I found unique and unspoilt desert landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, ancient petroglyphs, incredible hiking trails and the famous saguaro cactus (which have been known to grow up to 78ft tall)!
The park spans over 91,000 acres and is split into two districts by the city of Tucson. For the best cactus viewing, I headed to the western portion, which, while smaller, had a higher concentration of saguaro cacti.
I much prefer visiting this time of year as the weather is more comfortable (and safer!) than the summer and I loved exploring the hiking trails in more peace – Hugh Norris Trail and the Mica View Loop were my favorites. When here, I also spotted the gorgeous spring wildflower blooms and the cholla and prickly pear cacti which was in blossom during this time of year.
Visitor’s Center Address: 2700 N Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
Taking Instagram-worthy shots of the incredible Saguaro Forest at Golden Hour after hiking to the spectacular Valley View Overlook – I loved how it was bathed in a warm, soft light and casting long shadows.
Taking a trip to Rincon Mountains, located in the Saguaro East – I loved the breathtaking views overlooking the unique cacti-filled landscapes and spotting a red-tailed hawk!
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
·According to Mary Agreda[4] in her visions it was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at the approach of night that the Angel Gabriel approached and announced her as Mother of God and she gave her fiat.
Do notFEARthem, for it is the LORD, your God,
who will fight for you.
What are the demons in your life?
Do not fear them, for it is the Lord who fights for you! The Lord
will send His angels around those who fear
Him. These heavenly spirits shield us from danger and assist us in both our
spiritual and temporal needs. Angels instruct us and mentor us in the virtues.
Ask your guardian angel to be your spiritual director and be open to change.
Copilot’s Take
Deuteronomy
3:22 reminds us that Lent is not a season of self‑rescue but of surrender to
the God who fights for His people. The demons we face—fear, resentment, old
wounds, hidden habits, the quiet despair that says nothing will ever change—are
real enough, but they are not ultimate. Scripture never asks us to pretend they
are harmless; it simply refuses to grant them the final word. The Lord
surrounds His people with His own strength, and He appoints His angels as
guardians, teachers, and companions along the way. In the Goffine tradition,
the Christian year is a school of trust, and Lent in particular is the season
when God trains His children to stop negotiating with their fears and instead
hand them over to Him.
Ask
your guardian angel to be your spiritual director today. Not as a pious
flourish, but as a concrete act of humility: “Show me what I fear. Show me what
I cling to. Show me where I resist grace.” Angels do not remove the battle;
they remind us that we do not fight alone. Lent becomes lighter—not because the
demons disappear, but because we finally let God take His rightful place at the
front of the line.
IN those days: The word of the Lord came to
me, saying: What is the meaning, that you use among you this parable as a
proverb in the land of Israel, saying: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and
the teeth of the children are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, this
parable shall be more to you a proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are Mine: as
the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that
sinneth, the same shall die. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice,
and hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of
the house of Israel: and hath not defiled his neighbor’s wife, nor come near to
a menstruous woman: and hath not wronged any man: but hath restored the pledge
to the debtor, hath taken nothing away by violence: hath given his bread to the
hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment: hath not lent upon usury,
nor taken any increase: hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, and hath
executed true judgment between man and man: hath walked in My commandments, and
kept My judgments, to do according to truth : he is just, he shall surely live,
saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xv. 21-28.
At that time: Jesus went from thence and
retired into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who
came out of those coasts, crying out, said to Him: Have mercy on me, O Lord,
Thou Son of David: my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil. Who answered
her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying: Send her away,
for she crieth after us. And He answering, said: I was not sent but to the
sheep that are lost of the house of Israel. But she came and adored Him,
saying: Lord, help me. Who answering, said: It is not good to take the bread of
the children, and to cast it to the dogs. But she said: Yea, Lord, for the
whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Then
Jesus answering, said to her: O woman, great is thy faith: be it done to thee
as thou wilt: and her daughter was cured from that hour.
Prayer.Look, O Lord, upon the devotion of
Thy people, that we, who are afflicted in body by abstinence, may be refreshed
in mind by the fruit of good works.
Read: In the Sacrament of Penance and
Reconciliation, also called confession, we meet the Lord, who wants to grant
forgiveness and the grace to live a renewed life in him. In this sacrament, he
prepares us to receive him free from serious sin, with a lively faith, earnest
hope, and sacrificial love in the Eucharist. The Church sees confession as so
important that she requires that every Catholic go at least once a year.
Pray: If you have anger in your heart
towards someone, say a prayer for him or her today as a step towards healing.
Act: Make going to confession a priority
during Lent this year.
(est.
today in 1919) A
view from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Contemplation always involves knowledge of one’s true scale, of a reality that
dwarfs the ego.
Many years ago, I was
telling my spiritual director that I found it easiest to pray in a beautiful
garden, and I was warming to my sense of myself as a contemplative. The wise
Dominican asked with disarming candor:
“But are you in the
garden, or is the garden in you?”
It
took a long time even to realize what the question meant. I remember another
similarly disarming question at the very beginning of my adult search for God.
I was an undergraduate and took myself to a Benedictine monastery for a few
days’ retreat in Lent. I was captivated by the silence, prayer and retreat from
the world, swept up in the chant and the romance of monastic life. What I did
not realize was that I was attracted to it as something that would make it less
painful to be what I thought I was – something I needed for my religious
amour-propre. Thus, many searches for God begin, but one can only search for
God because he has already found you. What must happen is that someone else
must put a belt around you and lead you where you would rather not go. It is
not the intensity of the search, but of the willingness to be led that is
ultimately the measure of vocation. Vocation is not finding the garden in you;
it is finding yourself in the garden.
Perhaps the wise abbot
sensed this. Anyway, I remember being rather discombobulated by his direct
manner. As I emoted about the spiritual life, he looked at me carefully and
asked:
“Is God real to you?”
It
was like a torpedo below the waterline of all my high-sounding talk about my
attraction to the monastic life versus secular priesthood, the script I was
busy constructing of an encounter with the living God in which I remained
firmly the star. The best answer I could manage was: “I think so.” In the
moment of asking I doubted it, or rather I realized suddenly that so much of
what I thought was God wasn’t actually God. It was the paraphernalia of God, of
religion. (In fact, the moment wasn’t too confounding, for soon there came
another answer from deep inside: “He’s real to me in the Blessed Sacrament.”
There – perhaps because, as Aquinas put it, “Sight, touch and taste in thee are
each deceived” – I couldn’t confuse feeling for the reality.
I realized that I had been
given something to work with.) All of this came to mind when I visited the
Grand Canyon at the end of my trip to America.
What’s the connection?
One
may grasp what one might call the paraphernalia of the Grand Canyon. It was
formed by billions of years of imperceptibly slow change, of almost every
possible kind of geological activity: sediment layering, tectonic plates
shifting, glaciers melting and rivers carving a gorge a mile and a half deep
into solid rock. These are processes that can be mapped and understood, but the
result overwhelms the sum and the mind of man. It’s astonishing, ancient beauty
can only be contemplated – that is, it must act on you, overwhelm your mind
with its four-billion-year-old scale, stillness and silence which is in
constant change.
Spontaneously, the words
of the psalmist rose from my heart at the breathtaking sight: “Before the
mountains or the hills were brought forth, you are God, without beginning or
end.” Contemplation always involves knowledge of one’s true scale, of a reality
that dwarfs the ego. As if this were not enough, as the sun set, the sky above
came alive with stars. I have never seen so many or so clearly. They were like
the lights of some vast celestial city calling, a million points of light and
security like some distant homeland, like the medieval fantasy that the stars
were rents in the sky through which one could see the light of heaven. To count
them I must be eternal, like God. The psalmist said:
“When I see the
heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have made, what
is man, that thou art mindful of him?”
And
the answer comes back that in Jesus Christ the Father has united himself to the
heart of every person in such a way that the vastness of the universe becomes
an image not of alienation, but of the vastness of a love that was there before
the hills were set in order. This love causes even rocks to exude a soft beauty
which seems like the desire of the Eternal Hills for the Heart of their maker.
Bible in a
year Day 239: Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah
Fr. Mike shares one of his favorite Bible verses,
and guides us through the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they are
thrown into the fiery furnace. He also emphasizes heavily on the significance
of their Hebrew names, and how powerful name changes are in Scripture. Today's
readings are Jeremiah 22, Daniel 3, and Proverbs 15:29-33.
[4] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God:
Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with Illustrations (p. 770).
Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
Impact (1949)
Starring: Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn Studio: United Artists Director: Arthur Lubin Genre: Film Noir / Crime Drama Runtime: ~111 minutes Release Year: 1949
Plot Summary
Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy), a successful San Francisco businessman, is sent on what he believes is a simple errand by his wife Irene (Helen Walker). In reality, Irene and her lover have plotted to murder him. The plan goes awry, and Walter—presumed dead—escapes to a small Idaho town where he is taken in by Marsha Peters (Ella Raines), a compassionate garage owner.
As Walter heals physically and morally, he discovers a new way of living—one grounded in humility, honest work, and genuine human connection. Meanwhile, Irene faces the consequences of her treachery as the police unravel the truth. When Walter eventually returns to San Francisco, he must confront both the legal system and his own conscience.
Cast Highlights
Brian Donlevy as Walter Williams
A restrained, wounded performance that lets the moral arc breathe.
Ella Raines as Marsha Peters
Warm, grounded, and quietly heroic—her character embodies mercy without sentimentality.
Charles Coburn as Lt. Quincy
A detective who represents justice with a human face.
Helen Walker as Irene Williams
A chilling portrayal of calculated betrayal.
Catholic & Moral Themes
1. Resurrection After False Death
Walter’s survival and hidden life in Idaho echo the biblical pattern of “dying” to an old identity and rising into a new one. His time with Marsha is a kind of desert retreat—stripped of status, he discovers who he is without wealth or reputation.
2. The Sin of Betrayal
Irene’s plot is a textbook example of mortal sin: betrayal of covenant, attempted murder, and manipulation. The film doesn’t glamorize her; it shows the spiritual corrosion that accompanies deceit.
3. Mercy as a Transforming Force
Marsha’s hospitality is the moral center of the film. She takes in a stranger with no questions, offering:
Shelter
Honest work
Dignity
Her mercy is not naïve; it is discerning and strong. She becomes the instrument of Walter’s interior healing.
4. Justice With a Human Face
Lt. Quincy (Coburn) is a wonderful example of justice tempered by wisdom. He is not a blunt-force detective but a man who listens, discerns, and seeks truth rather than vengeance.
5. Identity Purified Through Suffering
Walter’s journey is a classic noir purification arc:
He loses everything
He is humbled
He learns to work with his hands
He discovers community
He confronts evil without becoming evil
This is the Catholic pattern of redemptive suffering.
Hospitality Pairing
A film like Impact pairs beautifully with a meal that reflects Walter’s Idaho “resurrection” period—simple, honest, and restorative.
Suggested Pairing: “The Garage Supper”
Hearty beef stew (symbolizing the warmth Marsha offers)
Fresh bread with butter (the simplicity of honest labor)
A modest red wine (Walter’s rediscovered dignity)
Apple pie (Idaho roots, home, and the sweetness of mercy)
This is the kind of meal you’d serve after a long day of work—nourishing, humble, and communal.
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